iTunes Radio App: Apple Rumored To Launch Application As Standalone In iOS 8 Update

iTunes Radio was announced at WWDC 2013 and released that following September alongside iOS 7. The service is available within iTunes on the desktop and the Music app on iOS devices. The service allows users to create channels based on artist, genres or songs. To get more user engagement to the service it is said Apple is considering a standalone app for iTunes Radio when they release iOS 8.

9to5Mac’s website reports the benefits of iTunes Radio as a standalone app as well as details about the apps interface and icon image. “The benefit for Apple, however, is that iTunes Radio will be pre-installed. The interface for the standalone iTunes Radio application is said to be nearly identical to the one found inside of the iOS Music app and its Home screen icon is a terrestrial radio graphic atop a red background.”

MacRumors reports Apple originally wanted to release iTunes Radio with iOS 6 but the plans fell through due to licensing negations with major music labels. They also report that the standalone app would maintain the same features and include a browsable music history.

Despite being buried in the iOS app music app, iTunes Radio has actually done well and continues to grow in popularity. CNN reports that Edison Research and Statista both place iTunes Radio as the third most popular music streaming service beating out Spotify and landing behind Pandora and iHeartRadio.